VIDEO: Competition breeds sustainability

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Published: February 24, 2023

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Significant renovations and upgrading to the Claas manufacturing facilities at Harsewinkel, Germany over the past two years have resulted in the replacement of 160,000 square feet of manufacturing space. New roof heights of up to 45 feet replace some assembly areas that were less than half of that and more than 70 years old. Along with the building comes new tools and digital and robotics-supported workflows that optimize production and improve quality control. | Mike Raine photo

Why would the growth of a global farm equipment company be good for a farmer in Canada? What does it bring to producers? From Germany this week the answer may be found in the options category.

Competition for market-share is an important part of the fundamentals that guide our modern economies. Most farms that remain in the industry, and this not just a Canadian reality, are a product of successful competition for access to land and people. Ok luck and timing play significant roles here, too, but being able to compete for these means having the resources to do it.

In no small part, new and evolving technologies breed the efficiencies that create the farm margins making this possible and the ability to make that choice sustainable.

I am in Germany and France this week taking a closer look at a company that appears to be planning for significant expansion in the global tractor market, with a specific focus on North America.

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Best known in the region for its combines, Claas has been growing both its dealer and retail relationships in recent years and expanding its tractor offerings for the market. At the same time higher commodity prices and improved farm margins, along with pent up demand due to supply-chain issues and global uncertainties from war to interest rates and surging farm input prices, have created incentives to make capital investments in new tools.

Competition for farmers’ attentions through more options in power and technology couldn’t come a better time for producers. And competition should breed better products and services in the future.

The Claas factory in Harsewinkel, Germany, has changed a bit since opening in 1936. | Mike Raine photo

I’m expecting so see more tools from this European maker on North American shores and in its fields in the future. And that might just be good for farmers everywhere.

Look for additional coverage from my trip to the EU in the coming days.

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